OpenTheGovernment.org - Let's Reverse the Pattern of Secrecy

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Let's Reverse the Pattern of Secrecy

Concerned that our government keeps from the American public information that we need to make our families safe, secure our country and strengthen democracy, a broad-based set of organizations formed OpenTheGovernment.org. We hope you'll help.

Read our 2008 Year End Report

Read our Strategic Operational Plan

2009 Secrecy Report Card

On Tuesday, September 9, OpenTheGovernment.org released the 2009 Secrecy Report Card. This years report chronicles slight decreases in secrecy across a wide spectrum of indicators in the last year of the Bush-Cheney Administration, after five years of continued expansion. For this year only, the report includes two special sections: one on fiscal transparency and one providing a quick look at the Obama Administration's openness promising policies and, in some instances, discouraging practice.

Read the press release here. Also, download the FOIA Risk Assessment Chart, an assessment of changes in FOIA practices by the Bush and Obama Administrations, and the expanded fiscal transparency section.

Policy and News Updates for November 17, 2009

News from Coalition Partners & Others
OpenTheGovernment.org Joins Letter Protesting Secrecy, Urging Openness, in IP Pact Negotiations
Advocates Ask Congress to Ensure Healthcare Advisory Panels are Transparent
PATRIOT Act Extension Moves in the House
Archivist Confirmed

Follow OpenTheGovernment.org's Latest Efforts to Make the Federal Government More Open

As part of the effort to make the federal government a more open place, OpenTheGovernment.org works with our coalition partners and other advocates to highlight important issues and correct systemic problems. Keep up with our latest:

OpenTheGovernment.org, Coalition Partners, Seek Input on Revision to Classification Policy

OpenTheGovernment.org, several coalition partners, and other open government advocates, sent a letter to the National Security Advisor asking 6hat the public be given the opportunity to comment on the exact revision language of the Executive Order on classification prior its presentation to the President for final consideration. The opportunity to comment on how public input is finally translated in to policy is the true measure of the transparency, participation,and collaboration promised by the President.

Our request was denied. A September 2nd letter from General Jones states that they "believe it is essential to preserve the confidentiality of the President's deliberative process regarding these complex issues that stem from the President's constitutional authority to protect the national security."
Read the letter. page 1 and page 2 .

Sunshine Week 2009 Webcast on Open Government

On Friday, March 20th, OpenTheGovernment.org hosted the 4th Annual Sunshine Week National Dialogue at the Center for American Progress. The event began a great opportunity for the public to be involved in the crafting of the new Administration's open government directive.

100 Days: The Obama Administration on Transparency Visit our collection of 100 day assessments of the Obama Administration on transparency and open government, including an entry by OpenTheGovernment.org's Director, Patrice McDermott, here.

Ideas for the New Administration

Read transition papers on increasing transparency and strengthening oversight from OpenTheGovernment.org and all of our coalition partners here

BailoutWatch.net launched

BailoutWatch.net replaces and supplements our Bailout Transparency pages. The new site, created on behalf of the Bailout Watch Project, gives users access to the latest bailout-related news, events, analysis, useful tools, federal reports, and more - all available via RSS feed.

OpenTheGovernment.org Joins in Forming the Coalition for an Accountable Recovery

OpenTheGovernment.org has joined the Coalition for an Accountable Recovery, to work to ensure that economic recovery spending is transparent, accountable and effective, through detailed data and research tools on a searchable website.

Government Secrecy: Decisions Without Democracy Available for Purchase

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OpenTheGovernment.org Analysis of Congressional Initiatives to Improve Information Sharing and Reduce Unnecessary Over-classification
During the 110th session of Congress, the House of Representatives passed notable legislation to improve information sharing and reduce over-classification. Read OpenTheGovernment.org's analysis of the bills here and read new bills introduced in the 111th Congress here.